Chapter 2, Problem 88AE

Interpretation Introduction

(a)

Interpretation: The number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in ${}_{\text{2}}^{\text{3}}\text{He}$ atom.

Concept introduction:

${}_{\text{Z}}^{\text{X}}\text{A}$, Here X represents the mass number, Z represents the atomic number and A represents any atom.

The atomic number is equal to number of protons and number of protons is equal to number of electrons for neutral atom whereas number of neutrons is equal to the difference of mass number and number of protons.

Interpretation Introduction

(b)

Interpretation: The massive atom between ${}_{\text{1}}^3\text{H}$ and ${}_{\text{2}}^{\text{3}}\text{He}$.

Concept introduction:

Massive atom is defined as the atom which is large in size or having more mass than another atom.

Interpretation Introduction

(c)

Interpretation: The precision of a mass spectrometer that is able to differentiate between the peaks due to ${}_{\text{1}}^3\text{H}$ atom and ${}_{\text{2}}^{\text{3}}\text{He}$ atom.

Concept introduction: Precision refers to the least value that an instrument can measure. To differentiate between the peaks due to ${}_{\text{1}}^3\text{H}$ atom and ${}_{\text{2}}^{\text{3}}\text{He}$ atom, the precision of a mass spectrometer depends upon the difference in the masses of ${}_{\text{1}}^3\text{H}$ atom and ${}_{\text{2}}^{\text{3}}\text{He}$ atom.